For God ... hath committed all judgment unto the Son: THAT
ALL MEN SHOULD HONOR THE SON EVEN
AS THEY HONOR THE FATHER. He that honoureth
not the Son, honoureth not the Father which hath
sent Him. Jn.5:22,23
Witnesses argue that Jesus Christ is not entitled to the
unqualified or unlimited worship due the Father. But by denying the
Son reverent homage or service paid to God they can only ascribe to
Him instead, recognition, honor, respect given to men.
Relative
honor to God through an angel was reproved
in these words: "Be careful! Do not do
that!...Worship God." Revelation 19:10; 22:8, 9, NWT) 'Let
God Be True', 1952 edition p. 151
The distinctions Witnesses make in worship due the
Father and Son are totally extra-biblical and not in keeping with
Apostolic teaching and practice.
What is it that distinguishes that Christ is not to be
genuinely worshiped as the Father is worshiped?
Language of Scripture?:
"Proskyneo" is consistently translated as
"worship" in the King James. "Proskyneo" is
applied 21 times to the Father and 17 times to the Son. The only
fair conclusion we can come to here is that the language of scripture
does not distinguish that Christ is not to be genuinely worshiped as
the Father is worshiped.
Scriptural Example?:
There is not one example of the disciples or anyone else
in scripture limiting their expression of worship of Christ. Jesus
never rebuked the disciple for improper proskyneo of Himself. only
the self proclaimed religious authorities objected to Jesus being
honored as the Father was honored. They proclaimed vigorously,
saying such things as, "You make yourself equal with God"
and "Only God can forgive sins" etc. To them, no man
should claim the attributes or prerogatives of God. So not only does
scriptural language, but also scriptural example fails to distinguish
that Christ is not to be genuinely worshiped.
Scriptural Instruction?:
There are no proscriptive instructions defining relative
proskyneo of Christ, nor are there restrictive commandments,
limiting the proskyneo of the Son. So the alleged distinction in
meaning of proskyneo of Father and Son is not clarified by a
distinction in scriptural terminology or by scriptural example or by
scriptural commandment either prescriptive or restrictive. All
restrictions proposed by any religious authority are really
extra-biblical (i.e. the commandments of men). The truth is that ALL
MEN SHOULD HONOR THE SON EVEN AS THEY HONOR THE FATHER (Jn.5:22, 23).
Christians can and the disciples could, never honor Jesus too
highly.
Witnesses argue that Matthew 4:10 excludes unqualified
worship of the Son. "You shall worship the Lord your God and
him ONLY shall you serve". (Matt 4:10) That is simply not
true. The exclusive element of this instruction rests on the last
phrase and yet we are called to be servants of Christ. If we
substitute the word "Honor" for worship in Matthew 4:10, so
that it read "You shall honor the Lord your God and him only
shall you serve", would the verse inform Christians that they
should not give identical honor to the Son?
Form and Content of worship?:
"...to
worship Christ in any form cannot be wrong." (W.T.
March 1880. p.83)
Can the alleged distinction in meaning of 'proskyneo'
when applied to the Son be established by the form or content of
worship displayed by the disciples/apostles? Do not the following
constitute elements of proskyneo in terms of form and content that
can legitimately be a part of the proskyneo rendered to the Son:
a. bowing the knee to Jesus while confessing Him as
Lord? Phil.2:9-11
b. prostrating oneself completely before Jesus? Rev.5:8
c. fellowship or commune with Jesus, sharing our
personal aspirations
and hopes? I Jn.1:3
d. coming to Jesus for relief of personal burdens and cares?
Mat. 11:28
e. calling on the name of Jesus, addressing Him
personally as
Lord? Acts 9:14, I Cor.1:2
f. praying personally to Jesus, petitioning Him for self and
others? Acts 7:59-60 Jn.14:14
g. glorifying Jesus by praise? Ps.50:23 Jn.16:14,
Mat.21:14-16
h. honoring Jesus verbally by ascribing worth to Him?
eg."To
Him who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power, for
ever and ever. Rev.5:13 NIV.
i. honoring Jesus by shouting or even singing His
praises?
e.g.
In a loud voice they (angels) sang: Worthy
is the Lamb, who was slain
to
receive power and wealth and Wisdom and
strength and HONOR AND GLORY AND
PRAISE. Rev.5:12 NIV.
j. verbally ascribing to Jesus absolute worth?
e.g.
JESUS: Lord of Lords and King of Kings; Alpha
and Omega, The First and the Last, The
beginning and the end. Rev.20:12
My
Lord and my Ho Theos. Jn.20:28
Your
name is to be praised O Emmanuel, Ho
Theos with us! Mat.1:23
All
power in heaven and earth is Yours; You
created all things; and without you there was
nothing made. Jn.1:3 And
Your throne Ho Theos is forever. Heb. 1:8 May
all angels and men worship you continually. Heb.1:6
Even
so come Lord Jesus: Rev.22:20 Amen.
k. Worship of Lamb in heaven by all creation
13
And
I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and underneath the
earth and on the sea, and all the things in them, saying: “To the
One sitting on the throne
and
to the Lamb
be
the blessing and the honor
and
the glory and the might forever and ever.”
14
The
four living creatures were saying: “Amen!” and the elders fell
down and worshiped.
NWT
WHICH ELEMENTS OF PROSKYNEO (ABOVE) DO YOU PRACTICE?
Whether
or not one acknowledges an ontological unity between Father and Son,
it is clear that Jesus accepted the title God (Ho Theos) as part of
worship of himself. (Jn 20:28) and we should feel free to address and
worship Him as such. Anything less would be to reduce the honor due
His name; the name above all names; the name to which angels must bow
and to which the Father declares: Thy throne O God (Ho Theos) is
forever. After all, Jesus Christ is our Creator. Why would we not
worship our Creator as God?
